Shock-absorber.



P. H. SEERY.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. mm.

1 1 86 046 lntvntvd J unv 6, 1916 A NORA EV together than those of Fig. 1.

PETER. H. SEERY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. I

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed April 29, 1914 Serial No. 835,092.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER H. SEERYLH citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, Essex county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoclo Absorber; of which the following is a Specificatiori, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to means for opposing and reducing the vibration of a vehicle body on its supporting springs, and specially to shock absorbers which are adapted for use on automobiles and other high speed L road vehicles.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable device of the aforesaid character, that shall be effective for its 7 describe the same in the following specification, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shock absorber embodying my invention, together with parts of the vehicle body and spring to which it is attached. The same device is' correspond ingly shown in Fig. 2 as attached to vehicle members which are normally much closer Fig. 3 is a partially sectional elevation of the shock absorher'drawn to a larger scale with one member broken away and shown in section to disclose the details of its structure and showing the device in its neutral position. Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 3 except that the absorber is shown in a compressed position. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Fig. 4 and taken on the line 55 thereof.

A vehicle body is supported in a well known manner by springs of which a part of one is shown at 11. Interposcd between the body and the spring is av shock absorber 12 which embodies my invention.

The shock absorber comprises a plate or disk 13 having a lever arm 14. a hub 15 having a lever arm 16, and a plurality of retarding members mounted in the bab as hereinafter explained.

The hub 15 has an annular groove 17 and a central hole 18. The plate 13 has an rially larger in diameter than the centralboss 23 of the hub and are arranged to fit within the annular projection 24. The springs 22 obviously serve as a partition. and divide the channel 17 into a pair of concentric annular channel portions. channel portion adjacent to the respective ends of the projection 19 are a plurality of rollers 25. The rollers are preferably identical and interchangeable and the diameter of each is substantially equal to the width of the segmental projection 19, As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and. 4, there are four ofthese rollers on each side of the projection, but as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, three may be located o1 v one side and five on the other, or any suitable combination employed so as to accommodate the device to different vehicles or to different other mechanisms. The outer portion of the annular channel 17 contains, in addition to the rollers 25 and the projection 19', a block 26 having a cylindrically enlarged curved end 27 and a beveled end 28, and another block 29 which has two eylindrically curved enlarged ends.

The hub 15 has a pair of hollow ears or projections 30 and 31 in which are located blocks 32 33. In the end of each projection is an adjusting screw 34 which acts ra dially upon the corresponding block and partially determines the position of the block in the projection.

Each block has a cylindrically curved In the outer,

socket 35 in which is seated a roller 36. If I the ends of the block are suitably formed the rollers 36 may be omitted. The blocks 32-33 fit loosely into the hollow projections in which they are mounted and may tilt into contact with either one side 38 or the opposite side 39 of the opening. If the block 32 is adjusted by the screw 34' when it is in engagement with the surface 38, the roller 36 will move in a radial line but if the block': has titlted into engagement with. the surother and the object of this arrangement will it. u arent from the operation ot the device as hitter set forth. I A plat: i covers the hollow projections ijt--3i and is secured in position by screws or pins 4].. This plate may however, be int 'rai with, or attached to the plate 13 which is arranged to cover the remainder of 15 the hub 15.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the parts occupy positions as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, when the vehicle is at rest, if the vehicle is then put in motion and, while traveling at high speed, its wheels traverse a bump on the road, there is a ternilencv for the vehicle body to compress the spring and, when the hump is passed, for the swing to expand, throwing the body up'wardly with considerable violence. This tendency i entirely overcome by the use of my improved shock absorber because the :l movement of the body when the compressed moves the arms l-l and shock absorber toward each other into she position shown in Fig. at. In changing from the relation shown in Fig. 3 to =t t, the projection 19 forces one :llcr and the block 26 in a clocklirrction :"zihthe block 29 and the Fine r-zdlers 21o are moved in the same (ii-iii the him-l: 2G.

reason of th fact that the block has a hen led end v. hich acts upon the enlarged curved end or the iilutn 2 the block tends to antler it rli against the springs 22 which are ilu-rei, somewhat distorted andoli'er a material resistam-e to the movement of the it o the that set

Furthermore, curved ends of the block 26 and are suliiciently large to succesthe rollers 36 which are seated i :bi l ii) 'l{. R3 and 3 This engagement eiwzs a very stroing resistance to the rd mo eznent of the body by mate- -ofiiug' tbc sprin However, 1 so arranged that the blocks 32 'r tilted by the curved ends of the t and the pawl 29 against, the oppo- .iMNJH o" the hollow projci [ions in which are mated whpu the body starts to rguiental projection 11 then ll." oppositidirection and forces s 2 and '[lle;i)ii)('l( 31' in a countero'uz-rtion, the same vvrdgeaciion morrmcnt of the body.

"ulazsie :3 and 353 are alike and a de' operation of one wizl suiii e us toward each other and to the down-.

for both. \Vhen block 32 istiited against the surface 39 the center of the roller 36 is thrown out of the radial l ne of the adjusting screw 34 and hence o --.-upies a position at a slightly greater distance from the center of the pivot pin 20. Thus in the upward direction of body movement the distortion of the spring; is less and the retarding effect of the shock absorber is educed. although it still continues at a material value.

In each direction of movement the enlarged ends of the block 29 act upon the rollers 36 as also does the curved end 27 of the block 26. In the assembled device the curved ends of the members 26 and 29 are spaced with substantial uniformity and therefore there are two normal positions to which the device may be set, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, in which there is a relatively free limited movement permitted. This arrangement retains the easy riding qualities of the vehicle while at the same time it. prevents undesirable vibration.-

Among other advantages, my improved shock absorber is very readily adjusted to suit varying conditions of load and further more comprises a comparatively few number of simple parts which are inexpensive to construct. l urthermme, all of the parts which have any tendency to wear may be very readily replaced.

Various modifications may be etiected within the spirit and scope of my invention and I intend that only such limitations be imposed are indicated in appended claims;

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A member having a curved surface, a. plurality of blocks arranged adjacent thereto and guided thereby, a second relatively rotatable member having a projection for actuating the blocks, and a resilient means in engagement with the blocks and adapted to be distorted by the blocks and to resist rctative movement of the members.

2. A member having a eylindrically curved shoulder, a plurality of blocks arranged adjacent to said shoulder, a resilient means holding the blocks in position, and a second relatively rotatable member having a projection extending into position to acturelatively rotatable member arranged to move said blocks between the casing and the spring, said member being retarded in both directions by the action of the blocks on the spring.

5. Two pivotally connected lever arms, a hub carried by one arm and having a flange, a circularly curved spring concentric with the flange, and a plurality of rollers and blocks between the flange and spring, an

actuating projection carried by the other arm and extending into the space between the flange and the spring to actuate the blocks and to retard the relative movement of the arms.

6. Two pivotally connected lever arms, a hub carried by one arm having a flange, a circularly curved spring concentric with the flange, and a. plurality of rollers and blocks between the flange and spring, an actuating projection carried by the other arm and extending into the space between the flange and the spring to actuate the blocks and to retard the relative movement of the arms, and means for partially obstructing the path of movement of the blocks to effect a resistance to the relative movement of the arms.

7. Two pivotally connected lever arms, a hub carried by one arm having a flange, a circularly curved spring concentric with the flange, and a plurality of rollers and blocks having enlarged ends between the.flange and spring, an actuating projection carried by the other arm and extending into the space between the flange and the spring to actuate the blocks to retard the relative movement of the arms, and means for engaging the enlarged ends of the blocks to partially obstruct the path of movement of the blocks to distort the spring to thereby effect a. resistance to the relative movement of the arms.

8, Two pivotally connected lever arms, a hub carried by one arm and having a flange, a circularly curved spring concentric with the flange, and a plurality of rollers and blocks between the flange and spring, an actuating projection carried by the other arm and extending into the space between the flange and the spring to actuate the blocks and to retard the relative movement of the arms, and means for obstructing the path of movement of the blocks automatically unequally nat'he respective directions of relative move nt between the arms.

9. Two pivotal y connected lever arms, a.

hub carried by one arm having a flange, a circularly curved spring concentric with the flange, and a plurality of rollers and blocks adjustable between the flange and spr ng, an actuating projection carried by the other arm and extending into the space --"l-ween the flange and the spring to wtnvtr the blocks and to retard the relative mc wnent of the arms, and means for automatically rendering said obstruction unequal in the respective directions of relative movement begreater or less obstruction in the path of' movement of the blocks to the passage of the enlarged ends of the blocks to cause the movement of the blocks to distort the spring a predetermined amount.

11. A shock absorber comprising a pair of pivoted members, one having an annular slot with its center in the pivotal axis, a pair of hollow bosses forming pockets opening into the annular slot and a lever arm; the other having a projection extending into said annularslot and a lever arm; a plurality ofrollers and blocks having enlarged ends disposed in said annular slot and adapted to be revolubly moved therein, a

'circular spring confining the rollersand rality of rollers and blocks having enlarged ends disposed in said annular slot and adapted to be revolubly moved therein, a circular spring confining the roller'and blocks to the outer portion of the annular slot, members in said pockets arranged to engage the enlarged ends of the blocks to resist the movement thereof, and means for adjusting the position of the members to vary the resisting effect of the members to the movement of the blocks.

13. A shock absorber comprising a pair of pivoted members, one having an annular slot with its center in the pivotal axis, a pair of hollow bosses forming pockets opening into the annular slots and a lever arm; the other having a projection extending into said annular slot and a lever arm; a plurality of rollers and blocks having enlarged ends disposed in said annular slotand .adaptedflto be revolubly moved thereinfa circular spring confining the rollers and blocks to the'outer portion of the annular slot, members in saidace pockets adapted to be tilt-ed from one side of the pocket to the other by the blocks dependent upon the direetion of. relative move ment between the pivoted arms, said memhers being arranged to engage the enlarged ends of the blocks to resist the movement thereof, and adjustable means for determining the maximum obstruction to the annular slut. effected by the members, said pockets being so formed that the members offer less obstruction and resisting effect when tilted to one side of the pockets than when tilted to the other side.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28 day of April, 1914, in the 15 presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

PETER H. SEERY. Vitnesses:

l GRAVES, Enxns'r \V. l\L\RSHALL. 

